BBC 14/4/10
Jermaine Beckford in Simon Grayson's plans for Leeds
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson insists Jermaine Beckford still has a big part to play for the club.
The side's top-scorer was dropped for the first time in three years for Tuesday's win at Carlisle after failing to score in his last five matches.
Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's a big decision to leave your leading goalscorer out - he's been fantastic.
"After the last few games his confidence is probably a little bit low and we're there to make that decision."
Beckford has already scored 27 goals this season but was booed by sections of the home crowd during Saturday's win over Southend at Elland Road.
The 26-year-old was replaced for Tuesday's game at Brunton Park with Luciano Becchio partnering Max Gradel - a decision Grayson felt was justified, with both strikers scoring in the 3-1 win.
"Luciano affected the game on Saturday and that's why we went for it tonight. Him and Max were a real handful for the Carlisle back four and could have had a hat-trick each.
"I'm sure throughout the game they kept looking over to the bench and when you see Jermaine and Mike Grella there, then you've got to keep working and putting in a performance."
It has been a mixed season for Beckford, who is out of contract in the summer.
While his goals have kept Leeds in the hunt for automatic promotion, he also submitted and withdrew a transfer request, with Everton rumoured to be a likely summer destination.
Grayson, however, believes the London born player still has a major part to play in his side's promotion push.
"If Jermaine remains on the bench from now until the end of the season then it proves the other two are doing their job. But there is that competition for places which we need from now until the end of the season," Grayson said.
"He has a massive role for us, whether it's from the bench or starting.
"Every other team in our division and probably in the league above us would like to have Jermaine Beckford when he's scored the amount of goals that he has - he'll play a big part for us.
The Leeds boss added: "Just because he didn't start for us tonight doesn't mean he won't start at the weekend, but he's affecting the other two lads that have the shirt at this moment in time.
"They've got to keep doing the same job that they've done tonight to keep him out of the team."
Telegraph 13/4/10
Carlisle United 1 Leeds United 3: match report
By Rob Stewart at Brunton Park
Leeds United surged back into the League One automatic promotion places as manager Simon Grayson’s bold decision to drop Jermaine Beckford was handsomely rewarded thanks to
Luciano Becchio.
Grayson’s club jumped above Millwall into second place and closed in on leaders Norwich as Beckford’s replacement, Becchio, struck either side of fellow front-runner Max Gradel’s flashing header to secure a comfortable victory over Carlisle United that invigorated the push for the Championship.
The former League One pacesetters rediscovered their old verve from the outset, starting vibrantly as 27-goal leading scorer Beckford stewed on the substitutes’ bench and a chance came and went for Gradel before Becchio struck.
He was first to react when goalkeeper Adam Collin surprisingly spilled Robert Snodgrass’ curling 25-free-kick in the 13th minute and the Argentine forward slotted the ball in from close range.
Becchio went close from distance before wasting a glorious opportunity following Snodgrass’ cross but got became disorientated and knocked the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Former Leeds defender, Ian Harte, inadvertently aided his old club’s cause when he nodded the ball straight to Gradel but Collin repelled his close-range volley with his legs on the half-hour.
Grayson was left to rue Gradel’s lack of a finishing touch in the 43rd minute as Leeds lost their composure and right-back Richard Keogh stooped to nod Harte’s free-kick past the impressive Shane Higgs after Naylor recklessly fouled Gary Madine.
Beckford might have been expecting to get the nod at half-time but Grayson stuck with Gradel who repaid his faith when he rose above Carlisle’s defence to powerfully head in Leigh Bromby’s cross two minutes after the break.
Becchio doubled the lead three minutes later when he raced clear before confidently tucking away a low left-footed shot beneath Collin for his 15th goal this term following Gradel’s through-ball before Beckford entered the fray late as â What a waste of money’ taunts echoed around Brunton Park.
Bradford Telegraph and Argus 13/4/10
Becchio and Gradel repeat dose
Carlisle United 1, Leeds United 3
Leeds climbed back into second place in League One by a point from third-placed Millwall, with Luciano Becchio and Max Gradel again the goal-scoring heroes.
Argentinian Becchio and Ivory Coast marksman Gradel were on the mark in the 2-0 home win against Southend on Saturday and they carried on where they left off by gunning down Carlisle at Brunton Park.
Leeds made it three successive wins for the first time since December, while Millwall could only manage a draw against Yeovil.
Becchio netted Leeds’ first and third goals, Gradel restoring the lead after Richard Keogh had headed an equaliser shortly before the break.
The exploits of Becchio and Gradel fully justified manager Simon Grayson’s decision to demote leading scorer Jermaine Beckford to the bench.
With steadier finishing, Leeds would have won by a much bigger margin.
Gradel should have given them an eighth-minute lead when clean through but he delayed his shot and, from the resulting corner, Richard Naylor had a headed goal disallowed, referee Mark Halsey ruling that keeper Adam Collin was impeded.
Leeds were ahead in the 13th minute when a free-kick from just outside the penalty area by Robert Snodgrass was held by Collin but the keeper then inexplicably dropped the ball, enabling Becchio to punish the error with a simple tap-in.
With Leeds well on top and Carlisle’s defence far from solid, Becchio should have had a hat-trick in the opening 18 minutes but after his goal he missed two good opportunities and skipper Naylor was also guilty of a bad miss.
Greg Abbott’s men snatched a surprise 43rd-minute equaliser when former Leeds defender Ian Harte delivered an excellent free-kick for right back Keogh to head powerfully into the bottom corner.
There was still time before the break for Snodgrass to squander another golden chance for Leeds, shooting over the bar with the net at his mercy.
There were fears that Leeds would be made to rue their many squandered opportunities but Gradel headed them back in front two minutes into the second half and Becchio fired home his second of the match three minutes later to leave Carlisle a huge task.
The Cumbrians were in such disarray that Becchio had yet another chance when Andrew Hughes picked him out with a measured cross but this time the Argentinian headed straight at the keeper.
Carlisle’s best chance of the second half fell to substitute Marc Bridge-Wilkinson but he shot wide with only Shane Higgs to beat.
Beckford and Mike Grella replaced Becchio and Gradel with two minutes left.
Since Grayson challenged his team to win their final seven matches and Leeds have taken maximum points from three games to date, with Saturday’s visit to Gillingham next on the agenda.
Jermaine Beckford in Simon Grayson's plans for Leeds
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson insists Jermaine Beckford still has a big part to play for the club.
The side's top-scorer was dropped for the first time in three years for Tuesday's win at Carlisle after failing to score in his last five matches.
Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds: "It's a big decision to leave your leading goalscorer out - he's been fantastic.
"After the last few games his confidence is probably a little bit low and we're there to make that decision."
Beckford has already scored 27 goals this season but was booed by sections of the home crowd during Saturday's win over Southend at Elland Road.
The 26-year-old was replaced for Tuesday's game at Brunton Park with Luciano Becchio partnering Max Gradel - a decision Grayson felt was justified, with both strikers scoring in the 3-1 win.
"Luciano affected the game on Saturday and that's why we went for it tonight. Him and Max were a real handful for the Carlisle back four and could have had a hat-trick each.
"I'm sure throughout the game they kept looking over to the bench and when you see Jermaine and Mike Grella there, then you've got to keep working and putting in a performance."
It has been a mixed season for Beckford, who is out of contract in the summer.
While his goals have kept Leeds in the hunt for automatic promotion, he also submitted and withdrew a transfer request, with Everton rumoured to be a likely summer destination.
Grayson, however, believes the London born player still has a major part to play in his side's promotion push.
"If Jermaine remains on the bench from now until the end of the season then it proves the other two are doing their job. But there is that competition for places which we need from now until the end of the season," Grayson said.
"He has a massive role for us, whether it's from the bench or starting.
"Every other team in our division and probably in the league above us would like to have Jermaine Beckford when he's scored the amount of goals that he has - he'll play a big part for us.
The Leeds boss added: "Just because he didn't start for us tonight doesn't mean he won't start at the weekend, but he's affecting the other two lads that have the shirt at this moment in time.
"They've got to keep doing the same job that they've done tonight to keep him out of the team."
Telegraph 13/4/10
Carlisle United 1 Leeds United 3: match report
By Rob Stewart at Brunton Park
Leeds United surged back into the League One automatic promotion places as manager Simon Grayson’s bold decision to drop Jermaine Beckford was handsomely rewarded thanks to
Luciano Becchio.Grayson’s club jumped above Millwall into second place and closed in on leaders Norwich as Beckford’s replacement, Becchio, struck either side of fellow front-runner Max Gradel’s flashing header to secure a comfortable victory over Carlisle United that invigorated the push for the Championship.
The former League One pacesetters rediscovered their old verve from the outset, starting vibrantly as 27-goal leading scorer Beckford stewed on the substitutes’ bench and a chance came and went for Gradel before Becchio struck.
He was first to react when goalkeeper Adam Collin surprisingly spilled Robert Snodgrass’ curling 25-free-kick in the 13th minute and the Argentine forward slotted the ball in from close range.
Becchio went close from distance before wasting a glorious opportunity following Snodgrass’ cross but got became disorientated and knocked the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Former Leeds defender, Ian Harte, inadvertently aided his old club’s cause when he nodded the ball straight to Gradel but Collin repelled his close-range volley with his legs on the half-hour.
Grayson was left to rue Gradel’s lack of a finishing touch in the 43rd minute as Leeds lost their composure and right-back Richard Keogh stooped to nod Harte’s free-kick past the impressive Shane Higgs after Naylor recklessly fouled Gary Madine.
Beckford might have been expecting to get the nod at half-time but Grayson stuck with Gradel who repaid his faith when he rose above Carlisle’s defence to powerfully head in Leigh Bromby’s cross two minutes after the break.
Becchio doubled the lead three minutes later when he raced clear before confidently tucking away a low left-footed shot beneath Collin for his 15th goal this term following Gradel’s through-ball before Beckford entered the fray late as â What a waste of money’ taunts echoed around Brunton Park.
Bradford Telegraph and Argus 13/4/10
Becchio and Gradel repeat dose
Carlisle United 1, Leeds United 3
Leeds climbed back into second place in League One by a point from third-placed Millwall, with Luciano Becchio and Max Gradel again the goal-scoring heroes.
Argentinian Becchio and Ivory Coast marksman Gradel were on the mark in the 2-0 home win against Southend on Saturday and they carried on where they left off by gunning down Carlisle at Brunton Park.
Leeds made it three successive wins for the first time since December, while Millwall could only manage a draw against Yeovil.
Becchio netted Leeds’ first and third goals, Gradel restoring the lead after Richard Keogh had headed an equaliser shortly before the break.
The exploits of Becchio and Gradel fully justified manager Simon Grayson’s decision to demote leading scorer Jermaine Beckford to the bench.
With steadier finishing, Leeds would have won by a much bigger margin.
Gradel should have given them an eighth-minute lead when clean through but he delayed his shot and, from the resulting corner, Richard Naylor had a headed goal disallowed, referee Mark Halsey ruling that keeper Adam Collin was impeded.
Leeds were ahead in the 13th minute when a free-kick from just outside the penalty area by Robert Snodgrass was held by Collin but the keeper then inexplicably dropped the ball, enabling Becchio to punish the error with a simple tap-in.
With Leeds well on top and Carlisle’s defence far from solid, Becchio should have had a hat-trick in the opening 18 minutes but after his goal he missed two good opportunities and skipper Naylor was also guilty of a bad miss.
Greg Abbott’s men snatched a surprise 43rd-minute equaliser when former Leeds defender Ian Harte delivered an excellent free-kick for right back Keogh to head powerfully into the bottom corner.
There was still time before the break for Snodgrass to squander another golden chance for Leeds, shooting over the bar with the net at his mercy.
There were fears that Leeds would be made to rue their many squandered opportunities but Gradel headed them back in front two minutes into the second half and Becchio fired home his second of the match three minutes later to leave Carlisle a huge task.
The Cumbrians were in such disarray that Becchio had yet another chance when Andrew Hughes picked him out with a measured cross but this time the Argentinian headed straight at the keeper.
Carlisle’s best chance of the second half fell to substitute Marc Bridge-Wilkinson but he shot wide with only Shane Higgs to beat.
Beckford and Mike Grella replaced Becchio and Gradel with two minutes left.
Since Grayson challenged his team to win their final seven matches and Leeds have taken maximum points from three games to date, with Saturday’s visit to Gillingham next on the agenda.